“Its glad that I could do shopping in every shop in
Davanagere, all credits go to your aunt”, sarcasm was overflowing in my uncle’s
eyes. I prolonged it by asking explanation, “why, you do that much shopping?”
“No, once she finishes with a shop, next time they won’t
allow to get her inside the shop, so we have to move to next shop!” He
guffawed.
I was enlightening about my aunts bargaining skills from my
uncle. Thank God, I never experienced it. Then I had a thought no one can beat
my aunt in bargaining. It was true till today before I went to shopping with
Sisha, Cheezer and Con. Not only they have peculiar name but also they have
peculiar bargaining styles.
“I hope I have checked everything the total comes to Rs.
5721 and you have shop’s green card so 10% discount. So it comes down to RS. 5149”,
the counter guy informed us. Con paid it from committee budget. We had come to buy
some prizes for the club function, planned to buy books, PD’s and head sets. We
had heard head sets will be too affordable in City center.
“Please wrap the
gifts with gift covers”, Sisha said. She said in a smooth tone as could as
possible from her. It was obvious that she used her wide and short hand
gestures. She is always a professional in everything, let it be a nail cutting pursuit
or scaring someone in quarrel with her nails!
“OK, for each cover we charge RS.4. For these many gifts it
may take 10 gift covers. So you need to pay RS.40 extra”, Counter guy explained
it expecting a little more profit.
“We have taken this much and even crossed Rs. 5000 at least
you have to give this RS.40 concession”, Sisha countered. Her smooth tone
turned 20’ harsh.
“Sorry ma’am, we give 10 % concession only for card. Not
apart that”, counter guy replied in an extra smooth tone sensing it may convert
to an argument.
“At least assume it as 8 sheets and we are ready to pay for
8 sheets”. Sisha was not a girl to accept defeat. She ends up with bargaining at least a single
rupee! Counter guy denied it completely.
“Call the manager”, Sisha said candidly, her tone harsher. She had made the higher move.
She was not ready to let go charge of 2 sheets. I was
amused, we have purchased over Rs. 5000 worth gifts, why we need to quarrel for
just 2 sheets of gift wrappers. I looked at counter guy he too was thinking
the same, I think. Without any word to Sisha Counter guy sent some guy to call
manager. I just looked around; all the people were looking at us. It was
obvious, in malls none speaks; they just pay the precise money and walk away
peacefully. I thought malls are much similar to grave yards. In grave yards we
just hear mourning and in malls just the background music! By the way I could not leave to notice the song; it was Remix of
Chammak challo. But today was a different day; Sisha had broken all the
rituals and argued.
I looked at Sisha, she was too angry. There was no
difference between her face and her red bindhi. Behind her, Cheezer was
standing. She was busy in deciding which flavor lolly pop to take, which were
kept on counter. She was not at all worried about Sisha’s argument, may be because
she knew that there is no one who can defeat Sisha in the whole world! May be.
Con was busy with the calculation. I stooped forward to see what he was
doing with the calculator. He typed ‘2*4’ and pressed answer, it showed ‘8’! He
showed me that with a sarcastic smile. He was cross checking still, its Rs. 8
or Rs. 800 which she is arguing for! Manager came.
“Ma’am, it’s not in Swapna shop rule (!) to give two free
gift wrappers. Sorry for denying”,
manager said in his trained voice.
“Sir, we are your regular customers, how can you tell this
to us”, Sisha was getting sentimental, the ultimate Indian skill. Manager
sensed this; he too did not want to lose his customer.
“Ma’am, it’s just two sheets”
“That’s what I am saying sir, why you can’t leave the charge
of just two sheets?” Sisha is impregnable.
By the way she had a good point. After all these show, we three needed to join
Sisha, friends jo hain. Ahem, else it will be awkward silence when
we go out of mall.
We all three chorused monotonously in favor of Sisha and it
went on for next four minutes. Neither party
was ready to compromise but after the boring and tiring argument, as belief of
Cheezer, Sisha won at last. Manager was too angry but he did not express it. We
too did not care even. After everything packed we left the mall to City center.
It was our utter disappointment when we came to learn that
price of headsets in City center is for higher than in Swapna shop! Obviously,
Sisha brought us back to Swapna shop!! For our disgust the Swapna shop security
guard stopped us at entrance and was not allowing us to get inside: gave us a
silly reason as its shop’s closing time. But we could see other people were
getting in!! My uncle’s words rushed to
my mind about aunts bargaining. I looked at the counter guy; he was beaming a
sarcastic smile at me. I told to myself, now you are a member of Uncle’s-city-roaming-club.
I tied my shoe lays firmly to roam the city!!
P.S: Thanks to the guys for making D-day memorable, I really
enjoyed it.
